Love Me Now

Gods of Hunger #4

by R.M. Virtues

Achilles loved playing the hero… Being a mere man had never been enough for him. He wanted to be a great one. And when he finds out that Helen, his childhood best friend, has gone missing, taking the mission is instinct. Even if it meant returning to the place he was born and raised, a place he swore never to return to —Heraklion. But he goes nowhere without Patroclus. Patroclus loved being one… But being a hero was nothing like playing one. It was a senseless sequence of pyrrhic victories he’d carry forever. Yet when Achilles needs him to return to Heraklion and the arena he had been forced to claw his way out of, he says yes because… well, of course he does. He would follow Achilles anywhere. Yet both had left more of themselves in Heraklion’s notorious arena than they’d taken. So returning would not require heroes but something else, something worse, especially when Helen is not the only one in need of rescue. They both must determine not only what it means to be a man, but what it means to be a good one.

Genres: Romance, Mythology, Retellings, Friends To Lovers, Queer, Greek Mythology, LGBT

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2023

About the author

A profound lover of love and self-proclaimed son of the old gods, R.M. Virtues is an Afro-Native, Two-Spirit bestselling author of romance filled with mythology, fairy tales, and folklore. He currently resides in Nevada on unceded Nuwuvi lands. When not writing, R.M. can be found watching horror movies, playing rpg video games, or falling down a research rabbit hole.

You can currently find him online at rmvirtues.com or @rmvirtues on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Patreon.

Reviews

[Beth P · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

I loved the previous three books in this series, so it saddens me that this one just didn’t grab me the way those did. I still love the world that the author has built and liked Achilles and Patroclus as characters.

It was largely the pacing and the spotlight on the arena fights that didn’t work for me here. I’m not sure if the author was intentionally paralleling the slog of the Trojan war with the time spent in the arena, but a slog is what it felt like to me (followed by a very quick resolution in the last ~15% of the book). I’m not opposed to the violence in the book or even put off by it, but all of the arena fights (which are written in excellent detail) just became a lot for me. Everyone’s mileage may vary on this and be sure to read the content warnings at the front of the book if you have concerns regarding this content.

The series arc continues to intrigue me, so I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment when it comes out.

Source of book: Kindle Unlimited

[row row · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first RM Virtues book and the first I’ve read in this series, which I know is out of order, but another Patrochilles retelling had me preordering before I read any of the other books in the series. I really wanted to love this and give this 5 full stars. I did really like the authors personal take on the characters and the world - though it’s the 4th in a series, I didn’t necessarily feel like I had to read the first 3 books to understand what was happening. I appreciated the diversity of the world.

But I wanted this to be more about the romance - and while the romance was there, and the moments that focused on it were beautiful and touchingly written - it felt more action-focused and like it was just setting up for the next book. The writing was great in some places, but I found it wasn’t consistent the whole way through. And though I liked a lot of the action and the plot itself was great and compelling, I just wanted more moments between Achilles and Patroclus. More development and maybe a longer page count would’ve made this book 5 stars for me.

That said, I know it is part of a series and not a standalone so I understand that there had to be some lead-in to the next book. And while I did enjoy this a lot, I also don’t feel like I’m that interested in reading the rest of the series.

[effa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The political plotline was a bit confusing at times, I think partly because of too many characters involved in this, and the ending felt a bit abrupt. But I enjoyed the book nontheless and can't wait for the next one in the series!

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Patroclus from Love Me Now is demisexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Ashley Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third read in the Gods of Hunger series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t know I needed a Patroclus/Achilles romance until I read this book. There’s a longing between them that neither knows how to vocalize but when circumstances are thrust upon them and all they have is each other…they finally say (and do) what they feel. There’s a bit in the book where Achilles raises a point that’s at the heart of who they are and why they denied themselves this love for so long: Their lives have been a fight, who are they if they don’t? They fought against the hatred of others because they’re trans men and fighting to survive Heraklion. In all that fighting, there wasn’t space room for love. And, now that they’ve found it, they’ll fight like hell to keep it.

It’s giving “who am I/who can I become when life isn’t solely about surviving?”

Absolutely loved it.

[Imani Gudger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished the series and it was awesome. I am totally hooked on Virtues reimaging of these tales.
Applause.
This book does not disappoint. much shorter than Let Me In. this story super tight with a spin almost prequel to the Iliad and the Battle of Troy.
They did a great job of letting us get lost in the world. my imagination was drifting between past and modern. The blend was well written and appreciated.
and of course the scenes are good.

I still think book #3 is my fav because I loved looking through Athena's head. Patroclus healing journey is heartbreaking and heartwarming too. yeah, I cried a few times

[TendaiisNarrative · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I honestly really liked this book. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. I especially appreciated Hermes' role in the story as in myth he is the only god that can come and go to the Underworld as he pleases so I loved seeing him play a similar role in this story. There were a couple of things that bothered me enough that I couldn't rate this book higher but I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

[MildrenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥹😭 the cutest couple in the series!

MM romance
Both trans
Neurodivergent MC
This was the most traumatic & gory out of all of them so far! I was at the edge of my seat throughout the plot bcuz I was so worried about their mental state being triggered by their past 😫😭 but they kept each other safe and made sure to check in each time! 🥹 the action, plot and romance as well as the 🌶️🌶️🌶️😌 was all balanced out so amazing and I can’t wait to continue this series bcuz why was there a cliffhanger!?? 🧍🏻‍♀️

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Achilles and Patroclus’ story set in a modern day AU Greek mythology world. This is the most violent book in the series so far. I enjoyed the book but did have to take breaks because I wasn’t quite in the right headspace for that much trauma. I feel like there’s a lot of setup in this for upcoming books in the series and I am still very much on board!

[Sharonda Isadora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore RM Virtues cause that man can write, hear me. Love Me Now imo is another excellent add to this series. Loved Achilles and Patroclus. They were so pretty on page. Such opposites in their emotions but the same underneath it all.

[Audrey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

plot wasn't as gripping as previous books but DAMN i loved this couple.

[sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so adorable the way the MCs show they care for each other. They got me giggling anytime they denied their feelings!

There was this weird sensation I had when reading the first sexy scene because it caught me off-guard, but all good after that!


Enjoyers of:
-Greek Mythology
-Achilles × Patroclus retellings
-partners and friends to lovers
This was made for you!


My warmest thanks to the author for the copy!!

[Lucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Virtues does it again! This fast-paced addition to the Gods of Hunger canon immediately had my whole heart.

I am not immune to mythical retellings and it was for this reason first that I came to love the Gods of Hunger world. The GoH relationships don't always strike a chord for me personally, but I do love the way that Virtues writes love stories where the love transforms the lovers in ways that make them more themselves.

From the first scene, I was particularly drawn in by both Achilles and Patroclus' masculinities. The ways that their masculinities had been challenged, the ways they were expressed, the ways they were able to see each other more intimately because of it— as a trans man, this story feels worth its weight in gold. The questions it asks about who we are when we aren't fighting were particularly resonant.

I am also a huge sucker for relationships centered around an intense sense of devotion— platonic, romantic, I don't care, but make them *obsessed* with each other. A&P definitely fit this mould as well.

If you love Patrochilles retellings, fast-paced/action heavy romance, or T4T devotion, Love Me Now is a MUST.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC